The thing is also age and condition of the car.
The newest mk2's and oldest mk3's are nearly 20 years old now.
You could have a battered mk2 (which I would say is faster, when new) and a well maintained mk3.
One could have a mileage of 150k, but serviced every 5k and well looked after and the other could only be 80k but ragged to sh!t and neglected.
Same would go for the 8v Vs. 16v argument.
